‘It could’ve been me?’ asked Ginny quietly, waiting for Harry’s answer. He was the kind of boy that always seemed to be nervous and he fidgeted, tightening the grip on his sleeves.

‘Yeah,’ he gave her a glance and saw that she was smiling. He straightened up, and smiled back slightly. ‘I mean, you and I did—but I suppose it didn’t really work.’

‘You and Cho?’ Ginny asked, as she kindly put a hand on Harry’s cheek. Her fingers drifted, moving to the arches of his nose and to his dark eyebrows. She traced the fine hairs with her pinky and suddenly with an unexpected impulse, brought him closer to kiss his lightning bolt scar. She felt him shudder slightly as her lips touched his hot skin and oh, how much she missed the feeling of him…

‘Me and Cho—we… I don’t know what to say, Ginny,’ said Harry as he looked at her face, her slightly parted lips that taught him how to love and the eyes that he fell in love with, those dark orbs giving him chills. He remembered how her hair used to cascade down her back when he undid her hair knots and how she looked when she stepped out of the shower, flushed and lovely. His hands balled into a fist to stop him from reaching out and touching her, when he thought of the times when he unraveled her body from the cotton nightgowns she wore, those things she would do to him…

‘No need to say anything Harry. Things happen.’

Harry was unconvinced. ‘But I feel as though I left you and it just doesn’t feel right.’

‘You never left me—it was just something that was never meant to be.’ Her voice quivered. We’re meant to be Harry Potter. You just to don’t realize it yet.

***

It stung, like sour juice hitting her eye except it filled her with stronger pain and she blinked quietly, trying to stop the tears. She hated potions so much, seeing her friends talk non-stop about useless things, Slytherin laughing ferociously at stupid pranks. Breaking up with Harry had changed her perspective of life and she seemed to scorn the world for even having Harry in life. Voldemort should have killed Harry.

After lunch, she hurried to Hagrid where she cried and cried about how she felt alone all the time—how when she saw him and Cho, she wanted to scream and yell horrid things to them.

'You mustn't let it get t'yer, Ginny! I know how embarressin' it must be to even see 'im but maybe, yer should talk to 'im and get use ter 'im with Cho.'

Ginny sniffled and nodded, holding on to her handkerchief. 'I'm not even sure I can do that,' she paused. 'I avoid him most of the time.'

'Don't worry, Ginny. I've got some jolly good ideas.'

***

Turned out that Hagrid's 'jolly good ideas' was merging the sixth and seventh year Care of Magical Creatures classes together. She whimpered slightly when she thought about the horrid Slytherin and Harry at the same time every other day for an hour and a half. She swore she would never tell Hagrid anything ever again.

She met Colin—who had abandoned his camera several years ago—ruffling his hair slightly. Colin was one of her closest friends and he had grown up to be a very good-looking boy. He had thick blond hair and he had a very, very nice face—even better than that blasted Potter. He had that shy kind of grin that made her feel better all the time, and there was even a time when they both fancied each other, but that was long over.

They walked over to Hagrid's hut where many students talked, some sitting on the floor, others leaning against the fences. She saw Ron and Harry almost immediately and she grabbed Colin's arm to steer away.

He looked at her once they were behind a large crowd. 'You still haven't talked to Harry.' It wasn't a question but a comment that was nothing but the truth and then she remembered that she had promised Colin to talk to Harry earlier.

She looked at the floor grimly before stifling a cry. 'Oh, how could I? He's always there and—You know what? I hate him. I hate that stupid insufferable—'

'You know you don't mean that.'

Ginny wiped her tears. God, it seemed like she was always crying and she just never stopped. 'Colin, I think I really do mean it.'

Colin embraced her with a gentle friendly hug and she stopped the tears soon after that.

Hagrid suddenly came before them, holding several little cages and smiled at Ginny, giving her a slight wink. As he passed by her, he whispered, 'Now yer can talk to 'Arry all yer wante!'

She gave him a little fake smile that convinced him that she liked his idea and he walked away to a large rock that he used all the time as sort of a stage. He uncovered the black cloth that shielded the cages and nobody said a thing.

He had brought bats, of all things to bring. Hagrid could sense their impatience and shook is head. 'These aren't normal bats, mind ya. They're premature baby vampire bats, see. Found 'em one day all 'ungry, the poor darlings. I just 'ad to feed 'em and I thought, why not show the class 'is. In a few weeks, 'ey'll turn into 'uman vampires. '

Ginny heard several people whisper in anxiousness. Draco Malfoy was the first to speak. 'What d'you feed them? You planning to kill us and feed them with our blood?'

Hagrid looked disarmed as ever. 'Heavens No! Got me some stag blood from Snape and I 'ave some packs so yer' can feed'em.'

Everybody shook their heads in protest and Ginny couldn't but feel a little sorry for the half giant. She spoke aloud trying to sound excited. 'That's a great, Hagrid. Should we get into groups?' Hagrid looked up and gave her his grin.

'I'll just come 'round and put yer in pairs, I suppose.' Hagrid put people in groups and she could see Harry with Ron, who was picking up the packet of blood with two fingers, looking highly nauseous. 'Colin, yer can be with—' he paused. '—Ah, Helen, over here!'

Ginny bit her lip hopefully, hoping for a kind Griffindor, not a Slytherin. She stepped back into an unselected crowd and Hagrid passed her without even a glance. 'Goyle and Crabbe! Yer two look like born partners!' he gather the two fat boys together. Slowly, the group grew smaller and smaller until Ginny was left with a few hopefully nice boys and girls.

'Ginny! I 'avne't seen yer. 'Ow 'bout yer and Draco?'

She wanted to scream NO but that sounded quite bad. After all, Harry was there and she dare look like fool to him after what had happened. It was strange. She had loved him once with all the love she could give but now… it was so different.

Someone said no and it was Draco Malfoy who had said it with such disgust and hatred that Ginny glanced at him with eagerness. He looked rather good, his blond hair a little longer than Colin's, just below the ear and surprisingly, as he pointed at her frantically yelling at Hagrid, she liked the hatred he had for her. It was an emotion nobody had ever shown her and it intrigued her even more when Harry looked over and spied them together. He raced over, leaving Ron rather red as a bat clung to his arm.

'Hagrid, clearly Ginny doesn't want to be partners with Malfoy. I mean, they aren't exactly—' He stopped, not knowing what to say.

She spoke up. 'That's not true Harry. I'm fine with being partners with him.' She grabbed Malfoy's arm and took a packet of red blood. 'Come on Malfoy, let's have a look at the bats.' Ginny glanced back to see Harry looking rather lost and confused.

'Get off me, Weasley. I don't want to be your partner.'

Ginny took out a bat, which hung tightly to her sleeve. 'That's a little to late, isn't it?'

Malfoy stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked about, glancing at the other slytherins. Why couldn't he be with Blaise or some girl except for that Weasley? It was like punishment and he hated being stuck with a muggle-lover. Suddenly Harry Potter passed him and was talking to Weasley.

'Ginny, I know you don't like him. Why don't you join me and Ron or Hermione? She's stuck with Pansy Parkinson and she'd very much like to have you with her.'

The girl shook her head 'I'm fine.'

'Are you sure?'

'Absolutely. Now, go. Ron looks like he's in agony.' A small little giggled escaped her lips and her smile faded as Harry walked away.

Draco glanced at her with curiosity.